Actor Dave Bautista has undergone a dramatic transformation through his weight loss journey.
The former WWE star spoke about his slimmer figure and admitted he’s “desperate” to maintain his weight.
“I started dieting because I put on weight,” he began explaining on Chris Van Vliet’s YouTube channel.
“I bulked up for the role, to the point of being uncomfortably so… I weighed about 315 pounds and gained weight very quickly… I gained weight on French fries and pancakes.”
Bautista revealed that he gained weight for his role in the 2023 psychological horror film “Knock at the Cabin.”
“Looking back, I probably did too much. I was a little overweight,” Bautista added. “I gained an uncomfortable amount of weight and it took me a very long time to lose it.”
The Marvel actor admitted that the more weight he loses, the better he feels.
“I also realized that the more weight I lost, the better I looked on camera and next to other actors. … Even at this weight…at 6’4 and 240 pounds, I look like a gorilla next to typical actors and it’s distracting.”
He went on to say that fans had expressed concern online about his dramatic weight loss.
Although Bautista says he’s “not starving himself,” he does struggle to maintain his weight.
“I’ll probably lose a few more pounds. I’m basically killing myself to stay in shape, which means I’m training really hard,” he said. “My calories are pretty restricted.”
After revealing that the actor only eats 2,500 calories a day, Bautista shared his diet regimen, which includes intermittent fasting and not eating anything three to four hours before going to bed.
Bautista’s comments come after the actor confessed he was relieved to be leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe after his role as Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy.
“I’m really grateful for Drax. I love him, but I’m relieved that it’s over,” Bautista previously told GQ magazine after playing the role for nearly a decade. “It wasn’t all fun and games. The role was hard to play. Working in makeup was exhausting. I don’t know if I want Drax to be my legacy. It was ridiculous and I’d like to do more dramatic things.”
The former professional wrestler turned actor also shared his thoughts on a career in Hollywood.
“Honestly, I don’t care about being a movie star,” Bautista told GQ.
“I don’t live a flashy life. I live here in Tampa. I don’t care about the spotlight or the fame. I just want to be a better actor and be respected by my peers. I don’t need accolades. I really don’t. It’s the experience and knowing that I’ve accomplished something.”
